Two arrested in Turlock torture case

Police on Thursday morning arrested two people on torture and other charges after a SWAT team served a search warrant in the 1300 block of East Linwood Drive.

According to Turlock police officer Mayra Lewis, Salvador Rendon, 42, and Martha Ferguson, 35, both of Turlock, were arrested. Rendon faces charges of torture, assault with a deadly weapon and an immigration hold. Ferguson was booked on a torture charge.

Investigators released few details Thursday, but a complaint filed in Stanislaus County Superior Court on April 25 alleges that Rendon and Ferguson "did willfully, unlawfully and feloniously, with intent to cause cruel or extreme pain and suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any sadistic purpose, inflict great bodily injury upon the person" of the victim.

The complaint alleges that Rendon committed assault with a firearm. It's not clear whether he's alleged to have shot the victim or hit him with the gun.

Lewis said in a press release that the victim's injuries were not life-threatening.

The investigation has been under way for a couple of weeks: Lewis said police received an initial report at 7:03 p.m. April 17.

During that call, Lewis said in the release, the victim alleged he had been tortured two days beforehand.

While searching the Linwood Avenue home, investigators found evidence that Lewis later said corroborated the victim's allegations of torture.

Lewis said detectives still are trying to determine the motive behind the alleged attack, but it does not appear to be gang-related.

The alleged victim could not be reached for comment. A woman who answered a telephone listed under his name said he was out of town.